LONDON is currently being gripped by sub-zero conditions by the so-called ‘Beast from the East’ causing Trafalgar Square's iconic fountains to freeze over.

The whole of the UK has been buried in snow this week as freezing Siberian winds swept across the country.

Some parts of the UK have been hit by 40cm of snow and the Met Office have issued severe red weather warnings urging people across the country to “take action”.

London has been repeatedly pelted by snow this week and its landmarks have been blanketed by the white stuff.

The fountains in Trafalgar Square have even frozen over as temperatures fell to as low as -4C in the capital overnight on Wednesday.

SKYNEWS•GETTY

London snow forecast: Trafalgar Square was frozen over as a result of the bone-chilling temperatures

Sky News host, Tom Macleod said: “Quite an amazing picture live from the centre of London, this is Trafalgar Square obviously, the fountain still going at the top but the vast majority of the bottom of the fountain has frozen over.

“The temperature right now about -1C in central London, it was -3 to -4C overnight so no real surprise that at least the top of the fountains has frozen over.”

London and the rest of the UK are still bracing for more snow brought by Storm Emma, which is currently hurtling towards the south and southwest of England.

Emma is expected to bring strong winds, snow blizzards and freezing rain as it smashes into Britain.

BBC Weather forecaster Simon King warned: “In fact, it is right along the southern coast now that snow is just eased slightly but it is all precursor really to what will be the main event of snow that is going to move in during the afternoon.

“This other red warning from the Met Office which is valid from 3pm (GMT) South Wales this afternoon and in the Cardiff area an in towards Devon and Somerset.

The fountain still going at the top but the vast majority of the bottom of fountain has frozen over

Sky News host Tom Macleod

“Wider around that across mid and south Wales, southwest England, central and southern England, up into the southwest of the Midlands.

“This amber ‘be prepared’ warning because as we go through the afternoon that snow is going to reintensify and we are going to see blizzards, frozen rain and by the end of the night there could be as much as 15cm to 25cm of snow, 40cm to 50cm of snow over the higher ground towards the hills ofSouthWales and that is why there is that Red and amber warning in that part of the world.”

The Met Officehasissued a red weather warning for South Wales and southwest England which is in place until the early hours of Friday morning.

Met Office chief forecaster Andy Page said further widespread snow is forecast as Emma roars in from the Atlantic on Thursday afternoon.

Storm Emma in pictures: Worst storm to hit the UK in 50 years

Storm Emma: Worst storm to hit the UK in 50 years in pictures.

He said: “Widespread snow is expected to develop through Thursday afternoon and evening, accompanied by strong easterly winds, leading to drifting of lying snow in places.

“Around 10 to 20 centimetres is likely to fall quite widely, with the potential for up to 50 centimetres [20 inches, 1.7 feet] over parts of Dartmoor and Exmoor.

“Long delays and cancellations to public transportareexpected, whilst some roads may become blocked by deep snow, stranding vehicles and passengers. Long interruptions to power supplies and other utilities are likely to occur.

“The warning has been updated to reflect the growing confidence of a severe spell of weather and to remove parts of North Wales and Southeast England.”

Almost 4,000 gritters with ploughs have been sent out to clear roads of ice and thick snow. The RACfoundationsaid around 500 snow ploughs have been put on standby ahead of severe falls later this week.

The Army is on standby to help local councils clear deep snow and clear the roads should they request although as yet this has not happened.